Paul roberts claude debussy 20th century composers 20th century composers phaidon press inc. Claude debussy 1862 1918 claude debussy was born to a peasant family in 1862. A descriptive analysis of the preludes book 1 of claude. Debussy was an influential composer of the late 19 early 20th centuries, creating works of sheer beauty that obscured their technical innovation. He was among the most influential composers of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The introductory pages discuss symbolist poetry, french impressionist painters and debussys musical style. Debussy was born on august 22, 1862, in saintgermainenlaye, a northwest suburb of paris. This paper also includes a brief history of preludes as well as possible influences upon debussy and his compositions. These works are distinct from debussys images pour orchestre. Claude debussy in 1908 this is a complete list of compositions by claude debussy initially categorized by genre, and sorted within each genre by cd citation needed number according to the 2001 revised catalogue by musicologist francois lesure, 1 which is generally in chronological order of composition date. He developed a highly original system of harmony and musical structure that expressed in many respects the ideals to which the impressionist and symbolist painters and writers of. He favoured techniques that werent taught traditionally. Claude achille debussy bewitching in music, bastard in love born. Debussys volatile and domineering mother victorine nee manoury, was.
Debussys teenage and adult love life was so packed with incident that we must skim over his childhood, which, according to dietschy was fraught with instability, lack of money, rebellion, hunger, fear, delusion, shame and defeat. Images usually pronounced in french is a suite of six compositions for solo piano by claude debussy. Aug 22, 20 debussy was born on august 22, 1862, in saintgermainenlaye, a northwest suburb of paris. Claude achille debussy bewitching in music, bastard in love. He was the son of a china shop owner and the eldest of five children. Debussy became more productive after he no longer had to worry about how he was going to earn money. Reverie paperback june 27, 20 by debussy claude 18621918 author 2. List of books and articles about claude debussy online. Nov 04, 2015 reveriethe seeds of debussys greatness. Along with maurice ravel, he was one of the most prominent figures associated with impressionist music, though he himself disliked the term when applied to his compositions. John adams on debussy, the first modernist the new york times. Why does claude debussys music sound so distinct from. Apr 23, 2008 claude debussy 18621918 is the subject of this fairly brief, but very engaging and wellillustrated biography. Claude achille debussy bewitching in music, bastard in.
The purpose of this thesis is to discuss and give a descriptive analysis of twelve of the twentyfour preludes written by claude debussy. Images book i published in 1905 and 1907 respectively, the two sets of images for solo piano are often considered the first examples of debussy. If you know the precise information of these, please let me know the information. Claude debussy born achilleclaude debussy was among the most influential composers of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Many of debussys bestknown pieces are assembled in this convenient, affordable collection. Debussy may have contributed the last important evolution to the prelude. The quiet, reflective passages of this beautifully simple work wander about very much as if in a dream. The course included music history and theory studies with louisalbert. For the arrangements of a given work, one of arrangements is indicated. Esther park, piano september 22 2016 sprague recital hall, yale school of music. From this point, debussys quality of education is unquestioned but the conservatoire environments strict methodology would spur his artistic growth while feeding debussys distain toward the conservative approach to harmony.
Sinfonia of londonjohn wilson chandos the selection of familiar and lessso works by turn of the 20thcentury french composers are played with subtlety and colour. These works are distinct from debussy s images pour orchestre. Paris, 25 march 1918 there is a woman at each crossroad of debussys life. Original mastery like this always changes musical history. Debussy was an influential composer of the late 19 early 20th centuries, creating works of sheer beauty. After traveling in europe and russia, debussy settled down in paris in 1887 and devoted himself to composing for the rest of his life. Nov 19, 2016 chopin nocturne full length stefan askenase 1954 1954 duration. The most important early example of the prelude being exemplified in the forty eight preludes and fugues of books i and ii of the well tempered clavier of bach, where the prelude served to establish the tonal center of the fugue that followed it.
Claude debussy, french composer whose works were a seminal force in the music of the 20th century. Many people would place the first piece of the first book, reflets dans leau reflections on the water among the composers most beautiful works, although debussy himself came to dislike it. They were published in two booksseries, each consisting of three pieces. Fortunately this was not the case when the first complete performance of debussys nocturnes was given in the concerts lamoureux series in paris on 27 october 1901. The title refers to a folk song that was the conventional accompaniment of scenes of the lovesick pierrot in the french pantomime, and indeed the many pierrotlike associations in debussys later music, notably in the orchestral work images 1912 and. Inspired by a pastoral poem of mallarme, it is one of debussys most sensuous and evocative orchestral works, lending itself perfectly to ballet. The first book was composed between 1901 and 1905, and the second book was composed in 1907. A descriptive analysis of the preludes book 1 of claude debussy. The first book of preludes is slightly easier than the second, since the second collection features debussy s more mature writing style. Reverie for piano solo by claude debussy sheet music 1935. His piano works include two books of preludes and two of etudes. Claude debussy 18621918 is the subject of this fairly brief, but very engaging and wellillustrated biography.
One hundred years ago this past march 25, achilleclaude debussy died in paris. I provide the original scanned version and the filtered, because the filter does some changes smoothening, sharpening borders and some portions of the scan get lost sometimes when they are too small e. Claude debussy was a child prodigy who became one of the most important and influential french composers of all time. L numbers are also given from lesures original 1977 catalogue. Many people would place the first piece of the first book, reflets dans leau reflections on the water among the composers most beautiful. However to add insult to injury his publisher, fromont, did not immediately pick it up. Claude debussy a music appreciation lesson for kids. Claudeachille debussy 22 august 1862 25 march 1918 was a french composer. The most important early example of the prelude being exemplified in the forty eight preludes and fugues of books i and ii of the well tempered clavier of bach, where the prelude served to.
He wanted to create, he said later, music whose form was so free it would sound improvised. And whether or not one searches beneath the sensory impressions of, say, reflections in the water the first of the images to find an underlying meaning to. The introductory pages discuss symbolist poetry, french impressionist painters and debussy s musical style. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Saintgermainenlaye near paris, 22 august 1862 died aged 55. Debussy dover music for piano by debussy, claude isbn. The francoprussian war forced their family to move in with debussys aunt clementine, who arranged his first. Discover librarianselected research resources on claude debussy from the questia online library, including fulltext online books, academic journals, magazines, newspapers and more. Claude debussy biography wikipedia achille claude debussy 22 august 1862 25 march 1918 was a french composer. Debussy favorite piano works by claude debussy, paperback. At first, commentators tended to consider debussy as being influenced by impressionism, a genre associated with art, but more recently, the. Debussy was 28 years old, and like most composermusicians, he needed money just to survive.
Claude debussy has 547 books on goodreads with 1086 ratings. Home browse music and performing arts music history of music modern era in music 1900 claude debussy. Debussys music was different from the typical music of his day. One of the easiest pieces in this collection is the girl with the flaxen hair, around a. An inscrutable man, born in a workingclass family and yet aristocratic in his tastes and values. The music of debussy is given detailed, yet not too technical explanations. The definition of reverie is a state of being pleasantly lost in ones thoughts.
Debussy for free and with almost a years training, debussy gained acceptance into the paris conservatoire 31. He was the rebel of the class, or so his peers thought he was when he was training. His father, a marine, hoped debussy would become a sailor. Reverie for piano solo by claude debussy sheet music 1935 claude debussy on. Theyre both still quite the challenge for advanced players only. His mature compositions, distinctive and appealing, combined modernism and sensuality so successfully that their sheer beauty often obscures their technical innovation. He developed a highly original system of harmony and musical structure that expressed in many respects the ideals to which the impressionist and symbolist painters and writers of his time aspired. Images 1905, childrens corner suite 1908, and two books of preludes 191012, all for piano solo. Reverie was originally written for piano solo but is here transcribed for mallet ensemble. Claude debussy, french composer whose works were a seminal force in the music.
In this new biography, roger nichols considers the. He dared to be different and preferred to do things his own way. During these years he wrote some of his most lasting works. However, the english newly revised edition of this book pub. Sometimes the deepest revolutions are the quietest. Certainly women of all ages seemed fascinated by him, and they attached themselves to him like ivy to a wall.
Claude debussy, in full achilleclaude debussy, born august 22, 1862, saintgermainenlaye, francedied march 25, 1918, paris, french composer whose works were a seminal force in the music of the 20th century. Debussy occupies an important position in musical history in the transition from romanticism to modernism at a time when impressionism and symbolism were emerging in france. He is sometimes seen as the first impressionist composer, although he. The easiest debussy piano pieces and the most difficult. Yet here it did so uniquely, since debussys style from this point continued to press ahead into new regions. From this point, debussy s quality of education is unquestioned but the conservatoire environments strict methodology would spur his artistic growth while feeding debussy s distain toward the conservative approach to harmony. Lorsque au soleil couchant les rivieres sont roses. He is sometimes seen as the first impressionist composer, although he vigorously rejected the term. Sometimes, too, a groundbreaking masterwork has to wait until well after its composers death to be appreciated. Debussy identified with the symbolist movement which was a movement parallel to the impressionist movement, except among writers, who used words to evoke atmo.
University and the author of a number of books on music including musorgsky. From age ten on he studied in the paris conservatory time. This new concept is seen in relation to debussys preludes in pook i and an analysis of the main tonics in each of these works is essential to the understanding of this concept. In life, debussy was an elusive personality, feline and withdrawn. He is sometimes seen as the first impressionist composer, although he vigorously. The francoprussian war forced their family to move in with debussys aunt clementine, who arranged his first piano lesson with the italian musician jean cerutti. One of the most revered composers of the twentieth century, claude debussy. The piano music of claude debussy internet archive.
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